System for continuously reeling wire from drum containers



SYSTEM FOR CQNTINUOUSLY REELING WIRE FROM DRUM CONTAINERS Filed July 25,1956 O. HAUGWITZ Nov. 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

| lllll llll hllllllll I I l' l-klllll I Il/M rll llllll llllllllll 0.HAUGWlTZ Nbv. 3, 1959 SYSTEM FOR CONTINUOUSLY REELING WIRE FROM DRUMCONTAINERS Filed July 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. OTTO HAUGWITZATTORNEY FOR CONTINUOUSLY REELING WIRE 7 FROM DRUM CONTAJNERS OttoHaugwitz, La Celle Saint Cloud, Franc e, assignor to Socit AnonymeGeoffroy-Delore, Paris, France, a French company Application July 23,1956, Serial No. 599,388 Claims priority, application France March 24,1956 2 Claims. 01. 242-128) This invention relates to systems forreeling wire and the like from drum containers in which the wire isstored. While it has been possible heretofore to receive wire in acontinuous unbroken manner into storage drums or containers, no systemhas so far been devised to the applicants knowledge for reeling thestored wire from such drums towards some point of use, without having tointerrupt the reeling process on exhaustion of each reel in order toeffect a connection, as by welding, with the wire stored in thesucceeding reel. This resulted in a loss of time and was particularlyobjectionable in cases where the wire was to be subjected to somecontinuous processing such as continuous vulcanization, since eachshutdown will then entail a scrapping of material and inefficientoperation of the vulcanizing apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to permit a continuous anduninterrupted reeling of wire, thread, or the like, from a succession ofstorage reels. Another object is to provide an improved wire reelingsystem for use in connection with reels of wire stored in drumcontainers. A further object relates to the prevention of kinks andloops in the wire during reeling operations.

In one aspect, the invention provides a wire reeling system comprising aguide casing in the form of a pair of spaced cones each slotted downfrom its apex along a generatrix thereof, with a channel interconnectingthe slots in both cones to provide a continuous passage therebetween,each cone being arranged to overlie in coaxial relationship a drumcontaining a reel of wire, and the two cones being adapted for alternateuse in cooperation with the respectively related reels of wire to permita continuous reeling of the wire from each reel through said cone, thewire 'being adapted to shift of its own accord from one cone throughsaid passage and to the other cone as the reeling operation istransferred from an exhausted reel to a full reel.

The above and further objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill appear from the ensuing disclosure with reference to theaccompanying drawings, given by way of illustration but not oflimitation, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a general perspective view of an improved reeling system;

Fig. 2 is an overhead plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 shows a detail of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 illustrates a front view of a drum provided with a kinkpreventing device according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of the device on line 55 ofFig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the general arrangement shown in Fig. 1but with the storage units in reversed relationship with exterior partsomitted to show details of construction of the sleeve 17 and theassociated elements shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the invention relatesto the type of wire storage means ex- Patented Nov. 3,1959

'ige

"emplified by thetwo storage units"6,and 7. Each storage unit comprisesan outer cylindrical casing or drum 8 coaxially surrounding acylindrical post 9, the reel of wire being stored between the post 9 andthe drum 8. In accordance with the invention, there is provided aguide'system which is shaped to provide a pair of spaced parallelupstanding cone portions 1 and 2, each having a perforated top as shownat 3 and having a slot extending from the top perforation down ageneratrix of the cone. The slotted generatrices of the two coneportions are face to face and their sides are interconnected by wallportions 5 merging smoothly at 4 with the cone surfaces and defining acontinuous passage between the recesses "of the two cone portions. Theupper side of this passage is formed with a straight slot leading fromone apical perforation 3 to the other.

Extending above the guide casing is a rotatable idler roller 13 whichextends a' short distance above and parallel'to the upper slot iii *thecasing, and in such a position that the vertical plane passing throughsaid slot is substantially tangent to said roller.

Preferably the inner post 9 of each storage unit 6, 7 is provided withan upper extension 10 carrying a rotatable head 11 of increaseddiameter; if desired the outer .casing 8 may be extended by a portion 12surrounding said head.

The system operates as follows:

The upper end of the wire 1a from the left-hand reel is led upwards outof the drum 8 and up through the .related cone 1, and is then led outthrough the top perforation 3 therein, around the idler roller 13, andthence over a guide pulley 14 to the point of use, not illustrated. Asthe wire is drawn out of the storage unit it frictionally engages therotatable head 11 and drives it in rotation; thus, in case of abnormaltension in the Wire the inertia of the revolving head 11 will contributeto the ready withdrawal of the wire by a flywheel effect.

'in the right-hand reel 7 is drawn out, and it will be apparent thatowing to the inherent geometry of the system the length of wire passingthrough the guide casing will automatically be transferred from the leftto the right-hand cone through the intermediate passage 5. The reelingprocess will then continue in a similar 7 way for the right-hand reel 7,and during this stage of the cycle there is ample time for substitutinga fresh reel for the exhausted reel 6 and connecting the topmost end ofthe wire in this fresh reel with the bottommost end of the wire in thereel 7.

It is sometimes found expedient in order to promote smooth withdrawal ofthe wire, to impart a positive rotational drive to the rotatable heads11 at a rate somewhat higher than the tangential velocity of the wirewithdrawn from the reel. Any suitable means may be used for driving thehead 11, as by an electric motor which may be conveniently housed in thecylindrical extension '10. However, an advantageous means for drivingthe head is illustrated in Fig. 3, and comprises a small blower fan 15adapted to discharge a small jet of high-velocity air against a numberof radial vanes 16 projecting from the upper surface of the head 11.

In connection with some types of flexible wire or thread, kinks are aptto be formed and are objectionable since they are liable to causebreakage during some sub sequent stage ofthe processing of the wire.To'prevent the formation of kinks during reeling it is simply necessaryto ensure at all times that a small but definite tension is present "inthe wire Normally,. the tension produced'hy the frictionofthe-wireagainst. the wallsof the casing 3 and theweightof the wire inthe casing,

will be sufficient to prevent kinks from developing.

However, a somewhat critical stage-inthe process occurs" at the time onereel has'been completely exhausted so that the remaining length ofwire'ing the reel becomes approximately parallel to the vertical lengththat is joined with the upper end of the other reel. At this point thewire will readily form itself into an S-orfigureeight loop, and producea kink.

This condition may be prevented by the means now to be described inconnection with Figs; 4 to 6 which shown a modified construction ofreel-6'. Prior to the storage of wire in drum 8 an end portion ofsaidwire is threaded into a slotted sleeve 17, and the sleeve is securedin the drum so as to have one of its walls extending along an internalgeneratrix. thereof, as by means of hole and-hook connecting meanszit-21. A slot 18 extends along-one vertical side of the sleeve and thesleeve has a spring plate 19 defining one longitudinal Near the lowerend wall thereof adjacent said slot. of the sleeve a cross pin 22 isarranged tobe removably inserted. The wire is passed as shown in Fig. 4,first under the pin '22 then up through thesleeve and out the upper endthereof, and is pulled upwards so as to remove any slack in the wirebetween the receiver head of the wire storing system (not shown) and thepin 22. After the receiver head of. the storage system has begunrotating and wire has commenced to be coiled up. in the bottom of thestorage unit, the cross pin 22 is pulled out. With thisarrangement itwill. be apparent that during the subsequent reeling process, onwithdrawal of the bottommost coil of wire from the drum, the Wire willbe constrained to riseup along the slot 18 of the between the innerrecesses of both cone portions, the

4 top of said passagebeing opening between the apices of the coneportions, a pair of storage units each comprising a cylindrical drumcasing and an axial post, said units being disposed under the respectivecone portions coaxially therewith, and each storage unit containing areel of wire with the ends of the reels of both storage unitsinterconnected, whereby wire drawn outfronrthe reel-of one unit and upthroughthe related cone portion and out the perforate apex thereof willbe guided by said wall portions to the other cone portion on exhaustionof said last-named reel, a vertical sleeve secured within the drumcasing'of at least one of said storage units, said sleeve having a slotand having a' spring wall forming one side of said slot and normallytending to close said slot and adapted to exert pressure on wire reeledin said drum casing as a coil of said wire is drawn through saidsleeve.

2. A wire reeling system comprising, a guide casing shaped-to provide apair of spaced cone portions each having a perforate apex and a slotalong a generatrix of the cone portion to provide slotted generatricesdisposedface to face, and'a pair of wall portions at each side of eachslot providing a continuous passageway between the inner recesses ofboth cone portions, the top of said passage being open to provide acontinuous opening between the apices of the cone portions, a pair ofstorage units each comprising a cylindrical drum casing and anaxialpost, said units being disposed under the respective cone portionscoaxially therewith, and each storage unit containing a reel of wirewith the ends of the reels of both storage units interconnected, wherebywire drawn out from the reel of one unit and up through the related coneportion and out the perforate apex thereof will be guided by said wallportions to the other cone portion on exhaustion of said last-namedreel, a vertical sleeve secured within the drum casing of at least oneof said storage units,- said sleeve having a slot and having a springwall forming one side of said slot and normally tending to close saidslot, and a cross pin removably extending through the lower portion ofsaid sleeve adapted'to receive a length of wire therearound.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS462,091 Cofiin Oct. 27, 1891 1,081,716 Boulais' Dec. 16, 1913 1,955,805Hanson Apr. 24, 1934 2,170,194 Griggs Aug. 22, 1939 open to provide acontinuous"

